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This is the last hour
The Apostle John warned the saints of the coming of the Antichrist, saying, “this is the last hour” (1 John 2:18).
From the Book of Revelation, we understand the meaning of an hour, as 500 years, being 1/12 of the human clock of 6,000 years. In 150, Justin Martyr said the Antichrist was already at the door.
The Saints are given into his hand
After Christ ascended, the Spirit of the Antichrist, who John called “the serpent of old,” was cast down to the earth, and took a third of the Angels with him.
Daniel said that Satan would have the eyes of a man, and a mouth.
The saints were given into the hand of Satan, through the power of the Bishop of Rome, for time, times, and half a time (Daniel 7:25), which were three and a half years, or 1278 days, as years.
In 193, the Bishop of Rome exalted himself as high as the Captain of the Armies, as high as Christ when he wrote letters of excommunication to the Churches of Asia, because they disagreed with his doctrine of Easter Sunday. Catholic theologians call this the proof of the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome. The saints remained under his control for exactly 1278 years, as prophesied by the Angel. In 1471, the Moravian Church broke free from his power.
The Place of his sanctuary is cast down
Daniel told us that when Satan exalted himself as high as Christ, the place of his sanctuary would be cast to the ground. In 180, Irenaeus made the last testimony of the true evidence of speaking in tongues.
The spirit of truth was taken from the Church. And since the Church was no longer sanctified by the holy spirit, there was no longer any evidence that the Church had the authority of Christ to remit sins. The continual sacrifice of Christ’s blood, which Daniel called “the hattimad,” had been taken away, and the abomination of desolation was set up.
Daniel said that an army would be given to Satan, to “pollute the sanctuary of strength” (Daniel 11:31). The Hebrew word “maoz,” was only used to describe the refuge of God, as in “God is my strong fortress.” Daniel’s meaning was clear, the worship of God in the holy spirit would come to an end.
The Bishop of Rome promoted Modalism, which John called the Spirit of the Antichrist
The same Bishop of Rome promoted Modalism, which John called “the Spirit of the Antichrist.”
Tertullian called the Bishop “Praxeas.” In his tract “Against Praxeas,” he described the Bishop’s “restless disposition” being “inflated with pride,” as evidenced by his letter of Peace to excommunicate the Churches of Asia. 1
Then Tertullian attacked Modalism, saying:
“Praxeas did a twofold service for the devil at Rome: he drove away prophecy, and he brought in heresy; he put to flight the Paraclete, and he crucified the Father.” 2
Tertullian Proposed a Trinity
Tertullian explained a Trinity, to replace Modalism. The prophecy that the Bishop drove away, was the prophecy of the Montanists, who were likely the real inventors of the Trinity.
Tertullian was a great supporter of Montanism, which he called the New Prophecy movement.
He believed that the Bible was full of “heretical subtleties” and the Comforter was now explaining the whole mystery through the New Prophecy. 3
Tertullian was the first to:
• say it made no difference what kind of water was used for baptism
• propose Sunday rest, and
• the Trinity doctrine.
The mainstream Church considered Montanism to be the possession of evil spirits. Its founders, Montanus and Maximillia, were each said to have “died a different death, a mind-destroying spirit, driving each to a separate suicide.” 4
Paul said, “the coming of the lawless one, is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
And John said the false prophet would perform great signs, telling those on the earth to make an image to the beast (Revelation 13:14).
Because of his association with Montanism, Tertullian was never made a Church Father, but he became the father of Latin Christianity.
Just twenty years earlier, Irenaeus identified Lateinos, the Latin, as “the highly probable (solution to the number of the beast), the Latins being the fourth beast prophesied by Daniel.” 5